Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Sept 29: The Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge fell ill while addressing an election rally in Kathua district in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday but the octogenarian leader later said he would live long enough to see that the BJP was defeated and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi ousted from power.
Sunday was the last day of public campaigning in Jammu and Kashmir where 40 Assembly seats would go to the polls in the third and final phase of polling on Tuesday. While addressing a rally at Jasrota in support of his party candidate on Sunday afternoon, Mr Kharge felt dizziness and was helped by party workers and were taken to a room.
Shortly afterwards he was examined by doctors, who said his blood pressure was fluctuating and advised him rest. He, however, returned to the dais to briefly address the audience to say, “I wanted to talk. But due to dizziness, I have sat down. Please pardon me,” but added, “We will fight to restore statehood…I am 83 years old, I am not going to die so early. I will stay alive till PM Modi is removed from power.” Kharge said.
After the speech, the Congress chief again said in a post, “Till the time Modi is not removed, I will remain alive, I will listen to you… I will fight for you!!”
Mr Kharge’s son and a minister in Karnataka Priyank Kharge in a post on X later said the party president was doing well now and he has been checked upon by his medical team. “Congress President Kharge felt slightly unwell while addressing a public meeting in Jasrota, Jammu & Kashmir. He has been checked upon by his medical team and apart from slightly low blood pressure, he is doing well. Extremely grateful for everyone’s concern. His resolve, along with people’s good wishes, keeps him going strong,” Priyank said.
Jammu and Kashmir Congress vice president Ravindra Sharma said Kharge felt dizzy and was taken to a room, where doctors were called for a check-up. They will advise whether he can attend the second rally or not, he said.
Before he fell ill, Mr Kharge told the largely-attended rally that Mr Modi was “shedding false tears for the future of the youth” of the Valley during his rallies. “The reality is that in the last 10 years, the youth of the entire country have been pushed into darkness for which Modi himself is responsible,” Kharge said, claiming that unemployment has risen during the Modi regime.
Unemployment figures have just come. The highest unemployment in 45 years is the contribution of Modiji. 65% posts are vacant in government departments in Jammu and Kashmir. The jobs here are being given to outsiders on contractual and daily wages jobs,” Kharge said.
Election will be held in around 40 assembly seats, including 11 in Jammu, six in Kathua, three in Samba and four in Udhampur districts. In Kashmir Valley, polling will be held in 16 assembly constituencies across Baramulla and Kupwara districts.